Davenport bed



Dec. 3, 1929. G. w. SLYTER 1,738,156

. DAVENPORT BED Filed Sept. 9. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l E George WSlyer DAVENPORT BED Filed Sept. 9. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- gva/genk;

George W Sly fer' www@ Patented Dec. 3, 1929 UNITED STATES GEORGE W. SLYTER, F TACOMA, WASHINGTON DAVENPORT :BED

Application filed September 9, 1925.

My invention relates to davenport beds, and particularly to a structure intended for incorporation into a davenport of the type employing a low seat having springs incor porated therein, either with or without loose cushions, and as exemplified in either the overstuffed type of furniture or the type having a finished back and arms, with upholstered or cushion seats.

m An important object of the present invention is to provide a construction of davenport bed wherein the seat of the davenport is kept low, yet wherein springs of ample depth are provided for incorporation into the bed structure, including in the bed, when folded, sufficient room for a mattress.

A further object is the provision of such a structure in which the full effect of all of the springs may be secured when the piece is se folded for use as a davenport; in other words, the provision of a structure wherein the seat is low and springy, to the full depth of all the springs. Associated with this it is an object in a davenport bed having such a low and springy seat, to provide means whereby the bed when unfolded will lie at the proper height for beds.

A further object is the provision of a novel hinge structure, one which can be simply and 3e cheaply constructed7 and one permitting the ready shipment of the metal bed structure and hinge as a unit, and its ready incorpora tion into various forms of davenport framework.

A further object is the provision of novel means for the support of a bed section in a folding bed which is elevated when unfolded and dropped when folded, the said support being automatically engageable when the bed section is fully elevated and automatically disengageable at the commencement of the lowering operation.

A further object is the provision of a novel `,1:5 leg structure for employment in connection with such folding beds.

In general it is my object to simplify such devices to permit greater economies in their manufacture, shipment, and assembly, and to produce a more comfortable piece of furn- Serial No. 55,215.

ture, which when folded will not suggest the possibility of its employment as a bed.

My invention comprises those novel parts and combinations thereof which are shown in the accompanying drawings, described in the specification, and particularly defined by the claims terminating the same.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown my invention in the form which is now preferred by me.

Figure 1 is a transverse section through a davenport bed embodying my present invention, in folded position.

Figure 2 is a like view, the bed being shown in unfolded position.

Figure 3 is a plan view of such a davenport bed, unfolded.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the end of such a bed structure, illustrating it at the commencement of the folding opera- 7o tion.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 3, and Figures 6 and 7 are, respectively, side elevation and axial section through a novel form of leg. A

The present invention is best embodied in a two section bed, the inner or bed section 1 lying close to the fioor when folded, and the outer or seat section 2 lying thereabove. When fully unfolded the two sections 1 and 2 lie substantially in the same plane. The section 1 is shown as comprising a frame 11 formed commonly of angle bars in the usual manner, having supported thereon coil springs 12 or like spring members, the tops of which define the upper surface 13 of this section 1. The section 2 is likewise composed of a frame 21, shown as formed of angles in the usual manner and having springs 22 supported therein. Whereas the springs 12 are shown as supported at one end upon metallic straps 10 extending between members of the frame 1l, the springs 22, while supported from similar straps 20, are secured to these straps between their ends, the springs 22 being preferably longer than the springs 12. Thus one end of the springs 22 define the plane of the bed, as at 23, this coinciding with the plane of the bed surface 13, while the other end of the springs support a seat structure 24. It is, of course, an equivalent to employ two springs for each spring 22 shown. This seat structure,` while shown as upholstered, may with equal facility be made merely as a Ysupport for the separate cushions usually employed in overstued furniture, to be laid upon this support.

The two sections 1 and 2 are pivotally connected by the edges which are forward when the bed is folded. For. such hinge l prefer to employ aY peculiar hinge structure, this comprising three plates arranged in adjoining planes, the plate 3 being adapted for attachment to the frame-work ofthe diavenport, as, for example, theY end frame 60, the plate 4 being adapted for attachmentto the seat frame 21, and the plate 5 being adapted :for attachment to they bed frame 11. The plates 4 and` 5V are pivotally connected at on'e'end of'each.V as indicated at 54. At its other end the plate 5 is secured to the forward edge of the frame 11, as indicated by the vrivets 51; The plate 4 isY longer than the platel 5V and is secured to the seat frame 21, asindicated by the rivets 42, between its ends, but' preferably at substantially the same distance from the pivot 54 as the point of se- Curementof the plate 5to the frame 11. At

Y its other end then, beyond the point of securement. to the frame-21 from the pivot 54, the plate 4 is pivotally connected' tothe plate .3, as indicated by the pivot pin 53.

- The removalof the common pivot 54 laterally from the planes ofthe frames 11 and 21 provides a largejspace between said frames when folded, in which space is contained kthe s rin s vI2V and 22 and the mattress, while tI e p acingof Vpivot 53 at the opposite side ofthe frames 11 and 21 drops the saidv frames lower in the casing when the bed is folded.

The plates 3, 4, and 5 are conveniently stamped of; sheet iron or steel, and require little forming to adapt them for use. The manner of attaching the plate 3 to the end frame-' may vary considerably. I have found' itconvenientto provide the plate 3 with a pair of notches orslots punched or cut from it, the slot 31 being above the slot y, 32", and the vslot 32if desired, being formed .as-an upwardly extendingnotch cut inthe bottom edge of the plate 3". A plate 7 may be permanently attached to the end frame, as by wood screws or bolts, and this is formed witha hook ,73 punched from the metal and directed upwardly to receive the notch 31. Theplate 7? might also be' provided with a like positioning member to be received in the slot 32, but Il have found-it most convenient to secure a bolt 72 in the end frame 6 0 in position to receive the slet 32, whereupon the bolt or a nut thereon can be Adrawn tight to clamp and holdv the plate 3 to the end frame. By this meansthe device is readily secured within a prepared frame-work, and in furtherance of thisend a side rail 61, constituting in eiect a part of the frame-work, may be secured to longitudinally directed flanges 3G bent from the plate 3, the plates being properly spaced and held in position in this manner, and the front rail G1 being conveniently held, yet not being in the way during the insertion and attachment of the bed structure.

W hon in folded position thc frame 11 is suitably supported close to the door, as by a longitudinal slat- 62. lVhen it is desired to unfold the bed, the seat or the seat frame 21 is' engaged at its rear or inner edge, and is swung upward and outward on the pivot 53. In the folded position this pivot is above the pla-ne of the frame 21, but when swung in opening the frame 21 is raised to a plane higher than the pivot 53. rl`he frame 11 being connected to the frame 21 only by the pivot connection at 54, is not raised except as its forward edge swings upward with the swing of the pivot 54 about the pivot 53, until the pivoted edges of the frames 11 and 21 meet, as shown in the dotted line position in Figure 2, when the two sections are in the same plane, but tilted at au angle. This ongageinent of thetwo sections causes the section 11 to be swung upward as the section 21 is swung downward, and in the final position, unfolded, the two frames occupy substantially the same plane, both being horizontal. This position is shown in full lines in Figure2. L

Means must be provided for supporting the swinging edge of the frame 21 and the inner edge of the frame 11. The swinging edge of the fra1ne21 can conveniently be supported by any suitable type of folding leg, as indicated at 8, normally, lying in the plane of the fra1ne21, but extensible to support the frame from the ioor. rlhe inner edge of the seotion 11, however, is preferably supported by automatically engageable, and automatically disengageable means, which as shown herein take the form of a plate 9 secured at its lower end to the end frame G0, as indicated by the screws or bolts 96, and having its upper end inclined toward the path of movement of the frame 11. The frame 11 is provided with a pin, as 19, which in swinging upward with the swing of the section 11 to its elevated position, will follow a prescribed circular path struck from the pivot 531 The plate 9 is arranged to project its upper end into the path of said pin. Therefore, as the section 11 swings upward, the pin 19 will engage the face of the plate 9, and this plate, being rcsilient, will yield to allow the pin t0 pass. At the uppermost position of the pin 19 the plate is provided with a slot or notch 91 facing rearwardly, and into this the pin 19 drops. Thus, while the bed. is in the unfolded position as shown in full lines in Figure 2, the inner edge of the section 11 will be supported by engagement of the pin 19 with the notch 91.

In folding the action is not quite the same, ttor inasmuch as the inner end ot the trame ll is not permitted to swing downward on the pivot 53, the two trames will immediately separate at their adjoining` edges, and as seen in Figure l the trame l1 will be moved rearwardly as the iframe 2l is swung;l upward. This continues until the pin i9 comes to the end of the slot 9i at the rear edge ot the plate 9. This disengrages the pin from its slot and this edge of the frame il is then permitted to drop until it comes to rest on the slat G2. The trame ll drops to the bottom ot the davenport trame-work and the frame 2l, swinging over, lies thereabove. The springs 22 ot the section 2 rest upon the springs 12 of the section l, eilce'pt as they are spaced apart by a mattress M folding between them. The inner edge oi the section 2 is unsupported when folded, except by its springs resting' on the spi-inns ot the section l. Thus the seat oi the (lavenport obtains the combined effect ot the springs l2 and the full length ot the springs 22.

The leg construction which I prefer to employ best shown in Figures 7 and 8. It comprises a leg` member 8, preferably pressed ot fairly heavy sheet iron or steel to provide marginal flanges 80. rlhese add stiffness to the leg and in addition adapt it to be positioned about a cup-like hub 8l which is secured to the frame 2l, as by the bolts 82, with the bottom ot the cup spaced above the angle ot the trame 2i. Both the hub 8l and the leg,` 8 at its upper end have apertures for the reception ot a pivot pin 83, having;1 heads on both ends. This pivot pin has interposed between it and the hub a spring' or springs, shown herein the crossed dat springs 84T. The pin might be extended through the angle of the trame 2l and have the spring secured on this extension, but in view ot the cup-like character of the hub 8l, and by the use ot flat spriunjs S4, they can be conveniently placed within this hub, thus avoiding the necessity ot drillinfa' the trame 2l for the pin 83, and covering1 the entire pivot so that bedding' cannot catch thereon. In addition to the apertures for the pin 83, the leg' is provided with a boss 85 or like device pressed into the metal and adapted to coincide with indentations 86 in the hub, concentrieally arranged about the pivot aperture, and shown as comprising punched holes. Iiy this means the leg); can be definitely positioned in extended position by engagement of the boss 85 with the proper hole 8G, and it can likewise be definitely positioned in the proper folded position by engagement with another' hole.

rlhe entire hinge construction can be simply made oi' stampings, and is extremely simple to assemble. It provides a means whereby the entire metal work can be made up in a single factory and shipped to manufacturers at various points, who can incorporate it into davenports upholstered in various types and according to the demands ot their particular trade. The bed when unfolded is ot the standard height tor beds, yet the seat when folded is as low as required ot davenport seats, and is provided with at le. at as great resilience as is ordinarily provided in such davenports. The folding' and unfolding' operation is extremely simple, unfolding requiring' merely the swinging` over ot' the seat section 2 and the un'loldinp; or the legs 8, and the folding; requiring); merely the reverse operation, the folding oi the legs and the swinging over ot the 2. No attention need be paid to the bed section l which is automatically brought into elevated position and loclred there and which is automatically unlocked.

The seat, while low, nevertheless provides space beneath it tor the storage ot a mat- 'ti-ess, as is desirable in such devices, and the use ot this mattress does not atleet the resilient character ot the seat, but in effect serves to 'form a medi um ot communication between the springs in the bed section l and in the seat section f2, so that it the springs in the two sections do not exactly coincide when folded, their lull eilect will be transmitted from one section to the other through the mattress M.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. In a davenport bed, the combination with a bed trame and a seat frame pivotally supported at its forward edge and positioned above said bed trame when folded, the torward edges of said trames being' pivotally connected, the pivotal connection lying substantially midway between the planes ot the 'frames when folded, whereby their forward edges will. substantially coincide as the seat :trame is swung towards unfolded position, of means for supporting' the inner edge ot said bed trame in upraised position when unfolded, said means comprising a longitudinal- 15J-extending,- pin carried by the inner edge ot the bed trame, and a resilient support eX- tending in the path ot said pin and yieldable lengthwise ol' the bed, said support having a rearwardly directed notch 'for the reception of the pin, when said trame section is raised. M

In combination with a 'folding bed section and means for elevating the same, a pin carried by said bed section and extending longitudinally, a plate having its upper end inclined into the upward path of said pin, and including' such path ot movement between its edges, said plate also lilavinp,r a rearwardly opening` notch positioned to receive said pin as the bed section. reaches its elevated po'- sition, the plate being yieldable to permit engagement olE the pin and notch.

3. In combination with a folding bed section and means tor elevating the same, a pin carried by said bed section and efrtendingl longitudinally, a plate having its upper end inclined into the` upward path of. said pin, and including such path of movement between its edges, said plate also having a rearwardly opening notch positioned toreceive said pin as the bed section reaches its elevated position, the platebeing yieldable to permit engagement of the pin and notch, the bed section elevating means being disposed to move said section bodily rearward upon the commencement of the lowering movement, and saidV pin and notch being so disposed and arranged, relative to the said elevating means, as to be disengaged by such bodily movement of the bed section, to permit lowering thereof.

4r. In a davenport bed, a plurality of bed frames and means pivoting them together by their longer edges, a pivot for the saine edge of the outer frame section located below the irst named pivots, end projecting pins carried adjacent the inner edge of the inner bed section, and supporting members yieldable lengthwise of the bed sections and positioned for engagement by said pins as the bed is opened, said supporting members having rearwardly opening slots adapted torreceive Y said pins and to release the pins when said inner bed section is moved rearwardly in foldinvf the bed.

rSigned at Tacoma, Pierce County, Tashington, this 2nd day of September, 1925.

Y GEORGE W. SLYTER. 

